Lubrication system with a reserve tank
AssigneeAirbus Helicopters
InventorsLaurent Zamponi, Jerome Belmonte, Eric Fabrigat
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lubrication system for a mechanical system, the lubrication system comprising a main tank, a reserve tank and a main lubrication circuit. The main lubrication circuit comprises, in particular, a pump drawing in the lubricating liquid from the main tank via a main suction point and a main suction pipe connecting the main suction point to the pump. The reserve tank is supplied with lubricating liquid either directly from the main tank or via the main lubrication circuit. The reserve tank is connected to the main suction pipe via an outlet pipe and the reserve tank is located above the main suction point so that the lubricating liquid flows through the outlet pipe to the main suction pipe by gravity.
Claims20
A lubrication system for a mechanical system, the lubrication system comprising:
- a main tank containing a lubricating liquid;
- a main lubrication circuit comprising a main flow generator as well as devices for spraying the lubricating liquid, the main lubrication circuit comprising a main suction point for drawing in the lubricating liquid located in the main tank, a main suction pipe connecting the main suction point to the main flow generator;
- a reserve tank comprising an inlet for receiving a portion of the lubricating liquid from the main tank, wherein the reserve tank is arranged in an environment where an outside pressure is prevailing outside the reserve tank;
- an outlet pipe directly connecting the reserve tank to the main suction pipe, wherein the lubricating liquid communicates through the outlet pipe between the reserve tank and the main suction pipe by gravity;
- a vent port disposed on the reserve tank, wherein opening the vent port vents the reserve tank to the outside pressure outside of the reserve tank and so that the lubricating liquid can flow through the outlet pipe by gravity, the open vent port acting as an overflow, balancing flows of lubricating liquid entering and exiting the reserve tank;
- and
- at least one spill-proof wall positioned within the reserve tank adjacent to the vent port and the spill-proof wall extends from a side wall upward between the inlet and the vent port to prevent the lubricating liquid from exiting the vent port when the system is tilted.
A lubrication system for a mechanical system, the lubrication system comprising:
- a main tank containing a lubricating liquid;
- a reserve tank having an inlet for receiving a portion of the lubricating liquid from the main tank;
- a main lubrication circuit having a main suction pipe in fluid communication with the main tank, the main lubrication circuit circulating the lubricating liquid to devices for applying the lubricating liquid;
- an outlet pipe directly connecting the reserve tank to the main suction pipe, wherein the lubricating liquid communicates through the outlet pipe between the reserve tank and the main suction pipe by gravity;
- a vent port disposed on the reserve tank, wherein opening the vent port vents the reserve tank to an outside pressure outside of the reserve tank so the lubricating liquid can flow through the outlet pipe by gravity, the vent port being open and acting as an overflow, balancing flows of lubricating liquid entering and exiting the reserve tank;
- and
- at least one spill-proof wall extending from a side wall upward between the inlet and the vent port within the reserve tank to prevent the lubricating liquid from exiting the reserve tank through the vent port when the system is tilted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.